The Council has today given its final approval to a regulation establishing a framework of measures on the emergency and resilience of the internal market, better known as the internal market emergency and resilience act (IMERA). This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. The regulation adopted today is intended to anticipate, prepare for, […]
The Council adopts position on measures to facilitate dispute settlement
The Council adopted its negotiating mandate on a package of measures to adapt the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework to the challenges of the digital world. Many consumers facing a disagreement with a business are reluctant to litigate because of the small amounts involved, long processing times or lack of confidence in the possibility of […]
EU extends individual sanctions over Russia’s war on Ukraine for six months
The Council decided today to prolong the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another six months, until 15 March 2025. The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed […]
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza
The EU urges immediate humanitarian pauses to enable the vaccination of all children in Gaza against the poliovirus. The Gaza Strip has been polio-free for the last 25 years. It is alarming that poliovirus was detected and that the first case was confirmed there again in July affecting children. An epidemic among a population already […]
83 states and organisations send a clear signal to the people of Ukraine
Switzerland invited delegations from around the world to take part in the the high-level conference on peace in Ukraine on 15 and 16 June 2024 in Bürgenstock (Canton of Nidwalden), with the objective of developing a common understanding of a path towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Speaking on Saturday 15 June, President […]
Lobbying lawmakers: EU audit reveals transparency blind spots
Lobbying EU lawmakers can still slip under the radar, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors. The EU transparency register, which provides information on who lobbies the Commission, Parliament, and Council, has positive features and informs citizens about the potential influence of lobbyists. However, it suffers from weaknesses and information gaps that make […]
EU-Central America: EU Council gives green light to the Association Agreement
The Council adopted last week a decision to conclude the agreement establishing an association between the European Union and its member states, on the one hand, and Central America on the other. This is the final step of the ratification process of the agreement, through which the EU and Central America commit to a close, long-term relationship in […]
Council gives green light to single work and residence permit for third-country nationals
The Council adopted a revision of the Single Permit Directive. The law, which updates the 2011 directive currently in place, aims to attract the skills and talent the EU needs and to address shortcomings as regards legal migration to the EU. The directive sets out the administrative procedure for a single permit for both the […]
New rules on labelling of honey, juice, jam and marmalade adopted
The revision of the “breakfast directives” aims to help consumers make informed and healthier decisions on products such as honey, fruit juice, jam and marmalades. Parliament on Wednesday approved the provisional political agreement with Council on updated rules on the composition, name, labelling and presentation of certain ‘breakfast’ foodstuffs, the so-called “breakfast directives”, with 603 […]